OREANDA-NEWS.  January 31, 2012. TogetherGreen, a conservation alliance between the National Audubon Society and Toyota, is now accepting applications for its 2012 class of Fellows and Innovation Grantees. The goals of the initiative are to foster conservation leadership, achieve conservation results, forge partnerships in communities, and engage millions of Americans in conservation action.
Do you have a conservation idea that uses innovative approaches and technologies?
Have you conceived of a unique way to conserve or restore habitat and protect species? Improve water quality or quantity? Reduce the threat of global warming?
Are you interested in engaging a new and diverse audience in conservation action?
If so, consider applying to these two programs to support your people-powered conservation solutions:
 
TogetherGreen Conservation Fellowships invest in individuals who are committed to empowering others and to creating positive environmental change in their communities and organizations. Fellows receive a USD 10,000 grant to conduct a 12-month conservation action project in their community, as well as specialized training and support to help shape and implement their projects. They also become part of a dynamic alumni network of conservation professionals from across the country.
 
TogetherGreen Innovation Grants annually provide essential funding that enables Audubon groups and others toinspire, equip, and support activities that engage new and diverse audiences in conservation action and create healthier communities. A minimum of 40 projects will receive funding, totaling more than USD 1 million dollars of support—with grants ranging from USD 5,000- USD 80,000. Grants will be reviewed by an expert advisory panel, and the average grant awarded will be around USD 25,000.
 
Since 2008, TogetherGreen-funded projects have engaged more than 200,000 individuals in conservation in all 50 states. The first three classes of Fellows and Grantees have accomplished inspiring results, recruiting thousands of volunteers to help make environmental improvements in their communities, such as planting over 110,000 native plants and trees, engaging more than 100,000 individuals in environmental education, and improving nearly 10,000 acres through conservation action.
 
“TogetherGreen offers people a chance to change lives and communities. How cool is that?” said David Yarnold, National Audubon Society President. “If you have an idea that will engage a community to protect the environment, we want to hear it. When communities, and individuals, are touched by TogetherGreen – they become better places to live.”
 
Candidates for the TogetherGreen Fellows program must have at least six years experience in some aspect of the environment, a passion for conservation, the desire to learn and grow, and an interest and ability to reach diverse and previously underrepresented audiences.
 
An advisory committee composed of conservation professionals and experts in environmental education, communications, outreach, and conservation planning assist with the awards selection. To learn more about TogetherGreen’s advisory board, visit http://www.togethergreen.org/About/advisoryboard.aspx
 
If you or someone you know has a creative environmental project and would like to apply for a TogetherGreen Fellowship or Innovation Grant, visit www.togethergreen.org/fellows and www.togethergreen.org/Grants/GrantsGuidelines.aspx respectively. The site features application guidelines, selection criteria, eligibility, benefits, and online applications for both programs.
 
The deadline to apply for a TogetherGreen Fellowship is 11:59 p.m. PDT on March 5, 2012; for an Innovation Grant the deadline is 11:59 p.m. PDT on April 2, 2012. Decisions will be announced in May 2012 for Fellows and June 2012 for Grants.